Valve mechanism.



J. W. 111111011X.

VALVE MEGHANISM. APPLIOA'IJION FILED NOV. 28, 1908.

984,820. Patented Feb.2l, 1911.

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V THE NORRIS Ps'r'L-Rs co., WASHINGTON a. c.

J. W. LEDOUX.

VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2a, 1908.

984,820. rammed Feb.21,1911.

2 sums-sum 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR JOHN W. LEDOUX, 0F SWARTHMORE, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 28, 1908.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911. Serial No. 464,940.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. LEDOUX, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Swarthmore, in the county of Delaware and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Valve Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention is a valve mechanism designed to operate automatically andgradually, for the purpose of regulating the flow of a liquid withoutabrupt movement or shock.

The characteristic features of the invention are fully disclosed in theaccompanying drawings and the following description thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of a valve mechanism embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a broken side view thereof; Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of the same, and Fig. 4 represents amodified form of the construction.

The mechanism, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, comprises acasing 1 having a cylinder 2, an inlet 3, an outlet 4, and between theinlet and outlet a diaphragm 5 containing an orifice 6 in line with thecylinder. A cylinder 7, containing the triangular ports 8, is disposedin line with the cylinder 2 and has its lower end seated in thediaphragm 5 in registration with the orifice 6, its upper end beingfixed to the flange 9 within the inner end of the cylinder 2.

A valve in the form of the cylindrical piston 10 works in the cylinder 2to control the ports 8, and to control the movements of this piston, itshead 11 has fixed thereto and extending in the direction of movement theoppositely disposed pistons 12 and 13 which work in the respectivecylinders 14 and 15, the cylinder 14 being carried by the removable head16 of the cylinder 2 and the cylinder 15 being set in the opposite partof the casing 1. The outer ends of the cylinders 14 and 15 are closed bythe plugs 17 and 18 through which the interiors of these cylinders areconnected by the pipe 19. A liquid, such as oil, is contained in thecylinders 14 and 15 and the pipe 19 connecting them, so that themovement of the valve 10 in either direction will be subject to theretarding action consequent upon the contracted character of the passage19 and the time required for the oil to pass therethrough.

The valve 10 is subject to liquid pressure communicated from the inlet 3tending to move it to open the ports 8 and from the pipe 20 tending tomove it to close these ports.

The pipe 20 is connected with the valve chamber 21 with which areconnected the liquid pressure pipe 22 and the waste pipe 23. Within thevalve chamber is a valve comprising the pistons 24 connected together bya rod 25, which passes upwardly through the head of the chamber 21 andthrough the sleeve 26 rising from the bottom of the mercury vessel 27. Aconnection 28 is fixed to the end of the stem 25, projecting beyond thesleeve 26, and extends downwardly without the latter to a connectionwith a float 29 in the vessel 27. The bottom of this vessel is connectedby a pipe 30 with the bottom of a lower closed mercury vessel 31 whichis connected through its top by a pipe 32 with the bottom of a waterreservoir 33, the latter being supplied by a conduit 34 connecting itwith the valve outlet 4.

WVhen water in the reservoir 33 falls, the pressure on the mercury inthe vessel 31 is reduced, mercury in the vessel 27 falls by reason ofthe change of the balance, the float 29 descends, the valve comprisingthe pistons 24 establishes communication between the pipe 20 and thewaste pipe 23 to permit the piston valve 10 to move outwardly in thecylinder 2, and pressure of water in the conduit 34 acting through theinlet 3 moves the piston 10 to open the ports 8 and admit water to thereservoir 33.

WVhen the water in the reservoir 33 rises to a predetermined height, itshead or pressure, exerted through the pipe 32, depresses the mercury inthe vessel 31 and elevates it in the vessel 27, lifting the float 29 andthe pistons 24 to establish communication between the pressure pipe 22and the pipe 20 communicating with the chamber 2. The pressure nowcommunicated to the piston 10 causes it to gradually close the ports 8to out off the flow to the reservoir.

The movement of the piston or valve 10 in each direction is subject tothe modifying influence of the buffer mechanisms comprising the parts12, 13, 14, 15 and 19, in transferring oil between the chambers 14 and15 through the pipe 19.

In the modified construction shown in Fig. 4, the mechanism comprises acylinder 35, having an inlet port 36 and an outlet port 37, the cylinderheads 38 and 39 having thereon the respective inwardly projectingstationary pistons 40 and 41. WVithin the cylinder 35 is a movablepiston valve comprising the heads 42 and 43 connected by the reducedbody portion 44, the head 43 controlling the port 37. Cylindricalchambers 45 and 46 are formed within the movable piston valve for thereception of the respective stationary pistons 40 and 41, and betweenthese chambers is a diaphragm 47 containing a small passage 48 by whicha liquid, as oil, in these chambers may escape from one to the other,the oil being introi duced suitably by way of a normally closed passage49 in the head of the piston 40.

Pipes 50 and 51 connect the opposite ends of the valve cylinder 35 withthe opposite ends of a valve cylinder 52 with which is iii connected apressure pipe 53. The cylinder I bearing 58 on the bracket or strut 59and is 52 has therein a valve comprising the pistons 54 and 55 which areconnected with the rod 56 extendingthrough an end of the cylinder.

A lever 57 is fulcrumed by the pivotal connected by the pivotal bearing60 with the rod 56. A float 61 is connected with the lever 57, so as tobalance the valve pistons i 54 and 55, and depends into a vessel 62.

The bottom of the latter vessel is connected by a pipe 63 with thebottom of a closed lower vessel 64 which in turn has its top connectedby a pipe 65 with the bottom ofthe higher reservoir 66. Water containedin this reservoir is sustained by a heavy liquid, such as mercury,contained in the parts 62, 63, and 64.

The head of water in the reservoir 66 will determine the mercury levelin the chamber Having described my invention, I claim: I

1. In a valve mechanism, a casing, a re ciprocating valve in saidcasing, a piston and cylinder connected with each end of said valve, anda contracted passage connecting said cylinders. V

2. In a valve mechanism, a casing having a port, a piston in said casingfor controlling said port, and fluid pressure mechanism forautomatically operating said piston, said mechanism comprising a conduitconnected with said casing for communicating pressure to said piston, avalve for controlling the flow through said conduit, a vessel in linewith said valve, and a float fixed to the stem of said valve anddisposed in said vessel. v

3. In a valve mechanism, in combination with a conduit and a reservoirwith which said conduit is connected, a casing having a port in saidconduit, a piston valve disposed in said casing so as to be operated bythe pressure of liquid in said conduit to open said port, a pipe forconveying pres-v sure to said casing to cause said valve to close saidport, a valve for controlling the flow through said pipe, a vessel, afloat in said vessel, means for connecting said valve last named withsaid float, and means for connecting said vessel and reservoir wherebysaid float is operated by changes of head in said reservoir.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28rd day ofNovember, 1908, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

JOHN WV. LEDOUX. Witnesses:

Itonnn'r JAMES EARLEY,

Jos. Gr. DENNY, Jr.

